How To Find A Lost Dog,How To Prevent Losing Your Dog

It's every pet owner's nightmare: Your dog runs away after being scared or loose. Now you have to find your lost dog before another nightmare scenario in your mind comes true.

Fortunately, pet parents can take some simple steps to find a lost dog.

7 Steps to Finding a Missing Dog

1. Keep calm and make a plan

Keep calm. Being sane and having a sound plan will maximize your chances of finding your missing dog.

Losing a pet is a very emotional feeling, your goal and focus is to find your pet, and you need a clear head to find it.

2. Contact your Microchip company

If your dog is microchipped, go online or call the company to find your pet. Found dogs taken to a local veterinarian or animal shelter can be scanned for identifying contact information in the microchip.

3. Visit neighbors

Walk around and knock on the door. Let neighbors know your dog ran away and leave a photo or flyer with contact information.

4. Promote on social media

Post photos of your missing dog and the best way to connect with you on social media, including town Facebook groups and fan or dog park pages. Let them know if he is a scary dog or easy to approach.

5. Visit a local animal shelter

Visit all local animal shelters within a short drive. Leave with a flyer with a photo of your dog and your contact information.

You never want to stop searching. Most animal shelters also have pictures of animals online. You can search online every day. "

Call the police, veterinary clinics and local businesses.

6. Post flyers and call around town

If your missing dog hasn't shown up, spread the word to the larger circle.

Make a flyer and put it up nearby, it's about researching every group and every opportunity to let people know you have a stray dog -- and don't stop.

7. Keep looking

Don't give up hope of finding a pet. This may take hours or months, but you need to keep searching.

"It's usually up to the dog, because some animals will be very friendly and will run to someone, and that person will be able to read their tags clearly," Banker said. "Other animals will be petrified. I've heard animals show up a few years later."

One thing to note is that most shelters have "legal hold times," she said. "After five days, we have the legal right to put the dog up for adoption."

So, don't delay.

Why do dogs run away?

A variety of factors can cause a dog to run away.

"They might see something they want to chase," Dr. Leif said. "Fear also triggers a flight response, causing pets to flee."

Anxiety in dogs can cause them to run after noisy, chaotic house parties or fireworks. Banke said she had even heard of terrifying dogs jumping in through windows.

"There could be a hole in the fence, or someone opened a door or forgot to lock it," she said. "Sometimes people walk their dogs on unsafe leashes or dog collars."

How to prevent losing your dog

Keeping abreast of your pet's whereabouts, as well as any factors that trigger dog anxiety, will minimize the chances of the dog escaping.

"Ultimately, I have to keep an eye on my animals at all times," Banker said. "Having a plan for your pet [when you] include him in family activities [is critical]."

"Always keep your dog on a leash or in an enclosed area, such as a fenced yard," says Dr. Leif.

Use a dog cage, such as Frisco's fold and carry cage, to keep your pet in it during parties, and check that his collar is secure before road trips.

The correct ID is also critical. The bank recommends a collar tag and an implanted microchip.

"It's a guaranteed ticket home," she said.

New technologies like the TR-dog's GPS dog tracker can be fitted to the dog's collar. If he goes missing, you can find his location from the app on your phone. Platinum Pets' Pet Finder Tag provides your pet with a unique traceability code and a way to automatically print lost dog flyers.

"If you know your pet has a phobia, you should talk to your veterinarian about ways you can predict and address the condition before it causes your dog to run away," Dr. Liff said.

Dogs with anxiety or fear may also benefit from sedative products like ThunderShirt, as well as herbal sedatives or anti-anxiety medications, she said. NaturVet's Calming Soft Chewables contain melatonin and are recommended for travel, thunderstorms, fireworks and other stressful situations.